Rock-gathering machine



Aug. 21, 1928.

W. E. ASPLUND ROCK GATHERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet V grvucnfo'z WILL/AM E. ASPLUND w. E. ASPLUND ROCK GATHERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 11, 1926 M m we a A. E M M u m I 1 I u l Illa] w I I IHI U n/mEssEs Aug. 21, 1928..

w. E. ASPLUND ROCK GATHERING MACHINE Fired Jan. 11', 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,457

w. E. ASPLUND ROCK GATHERING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1}, 1926 4 Spams-Sheet 4 E zjwwntoc no; uAM E A6PL Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

WILLIAM E. ASPLUND, OF DEER PARK, WISCONSIN.

ROCK-GATHERING MACHINE.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No. 80,655.

This invention relates to an improved machine especially adapted for gathering rocks during road construction and repair and demechanism driven by the grading machine.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a rock gathering and separating machine of the abovetype which is comparatively simple yet durable of construction and designed to operate efliciently.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanyin part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate correspondin g parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention operatively connected with a grading machine,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

gure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure'2,

Figure 5 is a partial rear elevational view, a portion thereof being broken away to show the interior construction,

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a rotary separator drum,

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a portion of the separator drum and conducting means mounted in association therewith,

Figure 8 is a top plan view partially in section of one end of a gathering member employed in association with my improved machine, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the entire gathering member.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates in its entirety a road grading ma chine drawn in broken lines to avoid com drawings formin a fusion with the structure forming a part of this invention. This grader is of the type commonly employed for grading the surfaces of roadways and embodies a pair of longitudinal frame beams 11 extending in diverging relation and having their. rear extremities secured to a transversely extendino axle 12. Rotatably mounted on the.ends o the axle 12 are the usual ground wheels 13, while the central portion of the grader frame carries a circular grade beam support-14, designed to rotatably support the beam 15. This structure is well known in the art and, therefore, forms no part of myinvention, being merely illustrated to disclose the con nection of my improved rock gathering and separating machine in association therewith. In order that my improved machine may advantageously connected with the grader it is deemed advisable that the rear axle o the grader be extended so as to project substantially beyond one of the frame beams 11, and thus provide a portionbetween the said frame beam and the adjacent wheel 13 to support the mechanism of the invention. Supported in inclined position upon the extended portion of the axle 12 is a longitudinal frame 17 comprising a pair of parallel side plates provided adjacent the lower extremities with bearing brackets 19 fitting the axle 12 of the grader. Secured to the frame 17 and arranged so as to brace the same with respect to the grader is a frame 20 comprising a longitudinal inclined beam 21 and a transverse end beam 22 which latter is secured to the inner side of the frame 17 by angular brackets 23. An intermediate transverse beam 24 extends between the longitudinal beam 21 and the inner side plate of the frame 17 and is secured to these members by suitable angular brackets. This intermediate beam 24 is rigidly braced by a diagonal bracebar 25, theends of which are bent at suitable angles and apertured for receiving fastening bolts. f

Rotatably mounted adj acent the upper and lower extremities of the frame 17 and extending through the central portions of the side plates 18 thereof, are a pair of transverse shafts 26 and 27 arranged to carry suitable conveying mechanism. Theintermediate portions of these shafts carry cylindrical drums 28 over which is trained a continuous conveyor belt 29 extending between the side beams of the uide frame. This belt carries a plurality transversely directed cleats or slats 30 preferably in the form of angle irons and riveted or otherwise secured to the conveyor belt. These slats are arranged so as to project outwardly and engage the rocks and soil and convey the same to a suitable separating structure.

Mounted on the upper edge of the frame 17 at the intermediate portion thereof, is a transverse rotatable shaft 31 sup-ported in suitable bearings 32 and projecting substantially beyond the sides of the guide frame. The outer end of this shaft 31 carries a sprocket wheel 33, while the intermediate portion extends through the upper ends of a pair ofspaced longitudinal bars- 3i forming supporting means for a gathering mechanism. The lower ends of the bars 34 rotatablysupport a shaft and upon one; end of this shaft is fixed a sprocket wheel 35 arranged in alinement witha sprocket wheel 31 on the shaft tll and a chain 36 is trained over these sprockets so that the shaftsill and 35 will be driven simultaneously. Rigidly secured to the shaft between the bars 34 is agathering wheel 37 embodying a hub fixed upon the shaft 35 and a plurality of radially projecting blades arranged to pass, at their wheel 37, a baffle is provided and consists of a side plate 51, comprising a lower angular inclined portion and a vertical portion, a transverse rear plate 52 which is inclined upwardly, and an angular-1y directed inner side plate 53 which is comparatively short and located oppositefhe plate 51 and tilted so as to assist in the collection of the rocks and soil gathered by the grading beam. The plate 52 carries an attaching plate 5-1 secured transversely beneath the lower end of the frame 17. With particular reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the frame 50 is braced at. its forward end by a longitudinal brace bar 55 having. its forward exti:emityfir1nly secured to the side plate 51 of the baffle 50 and, its rear end secured to the intermediate portion of the frame 17.

Inorder that the baffle 50 may he properly drawn over the roadway with the road drag, an annular; bracket 56 is secured to the frame of the drag and extends outwardly and downwardly thereof. This bracket bar is connected with the forward end of the gathering frame by means. of a link 57, secured to the bracket by an eye bolt 58 and to the gathering frame by a lug 59. This outer ends, close to the ground for engage- ,conncction will maintain the gathering ment with the rocks and soil gathered by the scraper, and deliver the rocks onto the conveyor belt 29.

The machine embodying the invention includes a sepaator which comprises a separator drum .38 consisting of a pair of annular heads 39,. each spanned by a dimetrieally extending spider 40, the spiders of the two heads having enlargements 41 intermediate their ends formed with openings in which is fixed, in any suitable manner, a shaft 4. The said shaft is journaled in bearings 46 and 4:7 mounted respectively upon the cross piece 24 and end piece 22 of the frame 20, and a collar 45 is fixed upon the shaft and rests in engagementv with the bearing 46-. The body of the drum comprises a cylindrical screen 43 which is securedat its ends to the heads 35), and in this manner the screen is supported concentric to the shaft the drum being open at both ends. A gear 18 is fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 44 and rotary motion is imparted to the shaft in a manner which will presently be described.

Secured by suitable brackets to the upper extremity of the frame 17 is a trough 49', supported in position to extend from the upper end of the frame to the upper end of the drum 38, this trough being tapered from its upper or receiving end to its lower or. discharge end and extending on a downward curve.

To facilitate accumulation of the rocks, from the surface of the road,- at the lower end of the fraine ll' where they may be readily picked up by the rotating gathering fume in a straight position and prevent the same becoming laterally displaced during travel of the drag.

Under certain conditions,v it is advisable to tilt the gathering and: separating mechanism to an elevated position and in order that this may be accomplished an offset bar 60 is. secured to the upper edge of the plate 51 and directed toward the center portion of the drag body. This offset bar (50 is to be preferably constructed of spring steel, so as to relieve the gathering frame of sudden jolts. Pi-vota'lly secured to the forward end of the bar 60 is :1V vertically extending connecting bar (51 pivotally connected at its upper end with a crank arm (32. The upper end of. this crank arm 62 is secured to a shaft 63 mounted in the adjacent grader frame beam 11. The opposite endv of the shaft 63 has secured to it an operating lever (it provided at its upper portion with a suitable locking mechanism embodying a movable detent 65 connected, by a rod (36, with a pivoted handlever 67.

llifi The frame structure is tilta 'il'y mounted on the axle 12 by the cars 19 and by a hearing plate (5% secured on the lower end of the beam- 21. A. sprocket wheel (39 is secured to the inner side of the wheel 13 which is fixed upon the extended portion of the axle, by bolts 13 so as to be positively rotated with the wheel. An auxiliary drive shaft. 70 is rotatably mounted inthe frame 17 in a position parallel with the upper conveyor shaft 26. this shaft 70 projecting beyond the frame and carrying at its outer end a sprocket gear 71. This sprocket gear 71 is arranged lift] in alinement with the sprocket gear 69 and a sprocket chain 72 is trained over these sprockets. The inner ends of the shafts 26 and are provided with gears 7 3 and 73 which mesh for simultaneous operation of the shafts while the shaft 23 also carries a gear 74 meshes with, and is adapted to drive,

a similar gear 75 mounted on a shaft 7 6, the

outer end of which carries a spur gear 77 \Vith reference to Figures 2 and 5, it will be noted that the gears 77 and i8 are in mesh so that rotation of the drum 38 is effected. In order that the gathering wheel 37 may be properly rotated during travel of the apparatus, the main drive chain 7 2 is arranged to engage the sprocket wheel 33 secured to the outer end of the intermediate shaft 31, thus driving the gathering wheel 37 through the instrumentality of the chain 36 and sprocket wheels mounted on the inner extremities of the shafts 31 and 35.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The improved gathering and separating machine is mounted in association with a road grader or similar road surfacing apparatus by pivotal connection upon the rear axle, as previously described. The grading beam of the supporting machine is adjusted to a position arranged to direct the rocks and soil scraped from the road to the gathering mechanism of my improved machine. The rotation of the wheel 37 will deliver the rocks and soil scraped from the road onto the belt conveyor 29. Continuous movement ofthis conveyor will cause further elevation of the rocks and soil to the upper end of the conveyor, and the same are then deposited into the trough 40. By means of this trough, the material is directed downwardly and laterally by gravitational move ment into the upper open end of the rotary drum 38. This drum, being continuously rotated during movement of the machine, the road material is agitated and disintegrated so that the soil will be pulverized and sift through the foraminous wall of the drum, while the rocks will move on downward through the open end of the drum. After the rocks have been discharged from the rotary drum, they may be collected in any suitable receptacle.

Attention is invited to the fact that the improved mechanism comprising the pres ent invention is of comparatively simple construction yet designed to be durable to withstand the severe usage of this type of machine. The present structure is believed to possess many advantages over machines of this character now in use, due to the simplified structure which will enable the manufacture of the machine at a comparatively low cost, the efficient driving mechanism permitting convenient operation and association with the supporting vehicle and designed esto the operators seat having resilient con-' nection with the gathering structure of the machine so as to avoid probable injury when working on uneven road surfaces.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewithshown and described is to be taken as the preferred example'of the same, and is susceptible of modification so that minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A rock gathering and road material separating mechanism for attachment to a Wheeled road grader havinga rotatable axle, comprising a frame embodying means for mounting the same on the axle, a forwardly extending baiiie secured to the lower end of the frame and adapted to be drawn over the ground and in contact therewith to accumulate the scraped road material, an endless conveyorsmounted in the frame, a rotary gathering wheel mounted at the lower end of the conveyor for delivering the road material onto the conveyor, a rotatable separating drum operatively mounted beside the upper portion of the frame, a conducting chute mounted at the upper end of the frame adapted to convey the material delivered thereto, from the conveyor, into the rotatable drum, and drive mechanism including means for association with the axle for operating the conveyor, the gathering wheel, and the drum.

2. A rock gathering and road material separating mechanism for attachment to a wheeled road grader having a rotatable axle,

comprising a frame embodying means for mounting the same upon the axle of the grader for tilting movement on the sald axle, a battle secured at the lower end of the frame and projecting forwardly thereof in position to be drawn over the ground to accumulate the scraped road material, an endless conveyor mounted for travel in the guide frame,

a road material gathering wheel rotatablymeans for operating the conveyor, the drum,

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to deliver the material onto the conveyor, :1 foraminous separating drum rotatably mounted adjacent and beside the upper end of the conveyor frame, means for conveying the material from the upper end of the conveyor into the said separating drum, and means operatively associated with the grader frame and conveyor frame for tilting the 20 said conveyor frame.

In testnnony whereof I aflix my signature.

lVILLIAM E. ASPLUND. 

